Questions to Extend Thinking
Can you knock over the blocks with the pendulum?
Why won’t the blocks fall down?
How many blocks can you knock over by just releasing the
pendulum once?
What happens if you release the pendulum from this spot?
What did you have to do to knock down all the blocks?
Modification
Substitute film canisters for table blocks. They respond somewhat
differently when struck by the pendulum.
Integrated Curriculum Activities
Paint with the pendulum (see activity 5.11).
Read books about construction and knocking down buildings,
such as Bam, Bam, Bam, by Eve Merriam, and Machines at
Work, by Byron Barton.
Look for pendulums in the school environment. Swings are an
example.
Helpful Hint
Place the pendulum on a tray to contain the objects that are
knocked down.